Autographs in the Skies is the first domestic publication providing a detailed account of the development of aerobatics in the Air Force of the Soviet Union and Russia. This aspect of the military pilots' activities has been given scant attention by researchers for a long time, even though reports from major air shows were not unknown to the mass media. The book has filled this gap.
For a military pilot, aerobatics is not a means of self-expression, rather it is an extra chance for the pilot to win, since it enables him to make full use of his warplanes capabilities. At the same time, the delicate performance of a set of difficult manoeuvres is a glowing and very effective show rightfully admired by thousands upon thousands of spectators.
There are dozens of acrobatic teams worldwide, showing their countries flag at air shows across the globe. Aerobatic pilots enjoy a well-earned respect and are rightfully called the elite of aviation. Our country is no exception. The airmanship of the Russian Knights, Strizhi and Sky Hussars is applauded by millions of people throughout the world. Our pilots have retained and refined the unique school of aerobatics, resultant from more than eight decades.
Nowadays, Russian aviation is transitioning through a hard time. To promptly overcome the crisis, Air Force veterans in 1997 took an initiative to set up the Russian Knight Aviation Promotion Foundation aimed at rendering all possible assistance in the organisation and conduct of demonstration flights both in Russia and abroad, social support of pilots and their dependants, and the popularisation of Russian Air Force aerobatic teams. Similar non-governmental organisations (NGO) exist in many a country under the auspices of the top national leaders who are quite right in their vision of aerobatic teams as apart and parcel of the national policies. Despite the fact that it is a pretty young organisation, the Russian Knights Aviation Promotion Foundation has scored a number of successful actions and events that proved to be essential to shaping the Russian Air Force's new image and is vital in ensuring the great airpower status to our nation.

Illustrations
1. The first Russian diploma-bolding aviator, Mikhail Yefimov, and bis students at the Sevastopol Commissioned Officer School
2. One of the best WWI fighters - the Nieuport XI biplane
3. The Red Five is approaching Moscow
4. At the 1949 air parade, group aerobatics were flown by a nine-ship Yak-15 team. The 176th Gds. fighter regt. Gromov, Salnikov, Alexeyev, Mayorov, Onoprienko, Kuznetsov and Vassilyev are meeting the leader, Gds. Lt.-Col. Sbulzhenko
5. A thee-ship MiG-15 formation is taring off the Kubinka airfield
6. Nine MiG-15s are flying past the Moscow State University building
7. Babayev-led Mig-15 nine-ship formation
8. The 9-ship MiG-17 aerobatic team: Gds.Capt. G.Tsuetkov, Gds.Capt. V.Kartavykh, Grd.Maj. Ye. Kostyayev, Gds.Capt. G.Kisayev, Gds.Capt. Ye.Solovyov, Gds.Capt. P.Nikolayev, Gds.Capt. V.Kabanov, Gds.Capt. G.Kurganov
9. Both 'guests' and the 'bosts' lining up at the ramp of the 237th TsPAT Centre
10. Aircraft used in air parades. The I-16 flown by Maj.Yarushin
11. Aircraft used in air parades. The Yak-15 painted for show
12. Aircraft used in air parades. La-15
13. Aircraft used in air parades. MiG-19
14. Aircraft used in air parades. MiG-21PFM
15. The Russian Knights' Su-27s sporting their initial paintjob
16. Sporting their new paintjob, two Su-27UB twinseaters are accompanied by a Su-27 in the initial Russian Knights pattern
17. Su-27 of the lipetsk Combat Training and Conversion Centre
18. The picture shows graphically the intervals and distances between the planes the Strizhi pilot maintzain in flight
19. The MiG-29 tail number 58 differs from the rest of the Strizbi fleet in its red spine fairing
20. The hussar pelisse fasteners on the Su-25 fuselage
21. A five-ship Su-25 formation of the Sky Hussars aerobatic team in flight
22. Su-25 pilots often deploy the drag chute in the landing